Pakistani Students Question Clinton On Aid Package
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is spending the day selling America to one of its key allies: Pakistan. In addition to meeting with businessmen and religious leaders, she appeared before more than 400 students gathered at Government College of Lahore. Among the questions, they asked about the $7.5 billion aid package for Pakistan that was signed recently by President Obama.
STEVE INSKEEP, host:
And as the president watched the remains coming home, his top diplomat was visiting Pakistan. That country faces its own war against insurgents, and it's considered a key to the Afghan war across the border. Today, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is in Lahore. It's known as Pakistan's cultural capital, as well as the scene of high profile bombings. NPR's Jackie Northam is traveling with the secretary.
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JACKIE NORTHAM: There was no shortage of color, pomp and ceremony at Secretary Clinton's first stop on her whirlwind tour of Lahore. Ceremonial guardsmen decked out in brilliantly colored uniforms ushered her into the Iqbal memorial, one of several historical cultural sights in Pakistan she's toured.
But much of the rest of the day in Lahore is on a more personal note for Clinton, meeting businessmen, religious leaders and more than 400 students gathered at Government College for a town hall meeting. It was an opportunity for the students to ask Clinton about a wide variety of topics - terrorism, India, government, and a $7.5 billion aid package for Pakistan recently signed by President Obama. The package has been widely criticized in Pakistan for placing too many conditions on its military and government. Clinton said the bill was to help Pakistan.
Secretary HILLARY CLINTON (U.S. State Department): The bill does not impinge on Pakistani sovereignty. It does not compromise Pakistan's national security interests.
NORTHAM: Clinton will also meet with members of Pakistan's press corps, editors and columnists which have been some of the toughest critics of the U.S. here in Pakistan.
Jackie Northam, NPR News, Lahore. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright National Public Radio.
